One Indonesian Citizen Who Was Taken Hostage By The Abu Sayyaf Group In The Philippines Was Shot Dead

JAKARTA - An Indonesian hostage, La Baa, reportedly died after a gun battle between Philippine security forces and the Abu Sayyaf group in Patikul City, Sulu Province.

Reported by Antara, Wednesday, September 30, at 08.00 local time, the body was flown from Sulu to Zamboanga by a Philippine military plane, then taken directly to the Zamboanga funeral home.

"On behalf of the government, I would like to express my deep condolences to the families of the victims for the death of this Indonesian citizen," said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in a virtual media briefing.

LB is one of 5 Indonesian citizens who were kidnapped while they were fishing using a wooden boat in the waters of Lahad Datu, Malaysia, January 16.

The man, known as La Baa, 32, was then taken by 6 masked men who kidnapped them to Philippine waters, the Lahad Datu maritime police report said.

The Indonesian citizen from Buton, Southeast Sulawesi was held hostage along with four of his colleagues, namely Arsyad bin Dahlan (42), Arizal Kastamiran (29), Riswanto bin Hayono (27), and Edi bin Lawalopo (53).

"We will continue to coordinate with the Philippine authorities regarding the fate of the other four hostages," said Retno.

In this case, he said, the Armed Forces of the Philippines have committed to finding and rescuing Indonesian citizens who are still being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group.